Job Title: Director of Government Relations & Advocacy

Department: Government Relations
Reports to: President & CEO
Salary: $85,000 – $95,000 annually, commensurate with experience
Status: Full-Time
FLSA Classification: Exempt

Job Description:

The Director of Government Relations & Advocacy leads Long Island Cares’ advocacy, public policy, and government relations efforts at the local, state, and federal levels to advance legislative priorities related to hunger relief, nutrition assistance, public health, and food insecurity across Long Island. This position represents the organization among government, nonprofit, healthcare, and community stakeholders while building strategic relationships with elected officials, agencies, advocacy coalitions, funders, and media outlets. The Director provides leadership for advocacy and outreach initiatives, supervises related staff, identifies government and grant funding opportunities, and collaborates across departments to support public awareness, organizational priorities, and community impact. This role helps strengthen Long Island Cares’ visibility and influence while advancing the organization’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Essential Functions:

• Lead and monitor legislative, public policy, and advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels related to hunger relief, nutrition assistance, social services, workforce development, and public health.
• Utilize data, community trends, and systems-level analysis to inform advocacy priorities, organizational response strategies, and policy recommendations.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with elected officials, government agencies, advocacy coalitions, nonprofit organizations, healthcare partners, community leaders, and other strategic stakeholders.
• Represent Long Island Cares at meetings, hearings, conferences, coalition groups, public events, media opportunities, and legislative visits.
• Lead advocacy campaigns, coalition initiatives, public forums, and community outreach efforts related to hunger, nutrition access, workforce barriers, and public policy issues.
• Develop advocacy, public education, and communication materials including testimony, briefing documents, legislative summaries, talking points, presentations, fact sheets, policy updates, and stakeholder communications.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and strategic direction for advocacy and community engagement staff and initiatives.
• Serve as a spokesperson for Long Island Cares and support media engagement, public education, and community awareness efforts across print, television, radio, digital media, and public speaking opportunities.
• Educate and engage elected officials, member agencies, community partners, and stakeholders on issues impacting food insecurity, nutrition access, public benefits, and related policy matters.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure advocacy strategies, public messaging, operations, and organizational priorities remain aligned.
• Support organizational response efforts related to policy changes, benefit disruptions, emergency food access, and emerging community needs.
• Prepare clear, data-informed reports and updates on advocacy outcomes, legislative developments, partnership activity, emerging risks, and organizational impact for executive leadership and stakeholders.
• Maintain advocacy tracking systems, legislative records, partnership documentation, and departmental reporting tools.
• Identify and support government funding opportunities, legislative initiatives, and partnerships aligned with organizational goals.
• Provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership regarding advocacy priorities, emerging policy issues, funding opportunities, partnerships, and community response efforts.
• Strengthen Long Island Cares’ visibility, credibility, and leadership within government, nonprofit, healthcare, and community sectors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree strongly preferred in public policy, political science, public administration, communications, social work, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in government relations, advocacy, public policy, nonprofit leadership, community engagement, or related work. Experience in hunger relief, nutrition policy, public benefits, human services, or community-based nonprofit work strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working within New York State legislative, regulatory, and advocacy environments required, including familiarity with state government structure, regional political dynamics, coalition-building, and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong knowledge of New York State laws, legislative priorities, and issues impacting hunger relief, nutrition assistance, social services, workforce development, healthcare access, and community well-being.
• Strong understanding of the Long Island political, governmental, and nonprofit landscape preferred, including regional policy priorities, stakeholder relationships, and community needs.
• Familiarity with federal anti-hunger, nutrition assistance, and social service programs and policies, including SNAP, TEFAP, child nutrition programs, and related public benefit systems.
• Experience working with elected officials, government agencies, advocacy coalitions, healthcare systems, or nonprofit organizations preferred.
• Experience identifying, supporting, or coordinating government grants, legislative funding requests, or public funding opportunities preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, public speaking, and presentation skills.
• Ability to professionally represent Long Island Cares and communicate effectively with elected officials, community partners, media, and the public.
• Media experience, including television, radio, print, and digital platforms, preferred.
• Strong understanding of legislative, advocacy, coalition-building, and public policy processes at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and operate effectively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated professionalism, sound judgment, discretion, and diplomacy in internal and external interactions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and general technology platforms, including CRM systems, reporting tools, presentations, and digital communication platforms.

Physical Requirements:

• Valid driver’s license required.
• Ability to travel throughout Long Island, NYS and occasionally outside the region as needed.
• Prolonged periods of sitting and computer use.
• Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds at times.